A community-based approach to wildfire management in the US has the potential to address persistent socio-economic issues inforest communities while accomplishingfuels and fire management objectives in a cost-effective manner. In a community-based approach to managing fire, community expertise and labor is utilized in an ongoing set of integrated ecosystem management activities that reduces the threat of catastrophic fire. To realize the full benefits of this approach, capacity building at the community level will likely be needed in order for community-based businesses and groups to function as partners with government agencies. The case of a community-based approach to ecosystem management in northern California illustrates many of the components of community-based wildfire management as well as capacity-building needs and potential benefits. The emergency Congressional funding available for wildfire management in 2001 could be well invested in developing community-based approaches to wildfire management that yield environmental, social and economic profits.